Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton has broken through the law-and-order boys’ club and made history as the first female president of the 118-year-old Florida Sheriffs Association.

Benton, a fifth-generation Floridian elected as sheriff in 2004, has nearly four decades in law enforcement under her belt. And Benton’s got some geneological cop creds as well. Her great-grandfather was the St. Augustine chief of police in the 1920s, according to the bio on her webpage. Benton grew up in Miami-Dade County and worked as a P.E. teacher for five years before kick-starting her law enforcement career as a Miami-Dade schools police officer in 1974.

“Sheriff Benton was selected for this position because of her extensive experience in various roles within law enforcement.” FSA Executive Director Steve Casey said in a statement. “She brings nearly 40 years of experience, a highly successful tenure as a leader as well as multiple honors and awards.”

Also from her webpage bio: Benton has a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from St. Thomas University and a baster’s degree in public administration from Troy State University. She has two grown children and three grandchildren.

Tags: bnblogs, Florida Sheriffs Association, Highlands County, Susan Benton

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